Woody Paige

Paige: Ujiri in Nuggets' jungle

Taking over as executive vice president of the Nuggets' basketball operations is analogous to walking into a Zaria game reserve.

Masai Ujiri, I presume.

"I love this opportunity. I would have taken the job if I had been offered $5. Who could say no to this great challenge?" A few people — including one who wanted more than $500,000 — did.

Most others would rather be surrounded by the lions, leopards, warthogs and cheetahs in Ujiri's homeland of Nigeria than these untamed Nuggets of Denver.

"Ma-Sigh You-Jeer-ee" is the first African-born and, as he says, "foreign" NBA de facto general manager, but he is not foreign to the Nuggets and knows exactly what he's getting into. He doesn't need a flashlight and a guidebook.

The cast of characters hasn't changed much since Ujiri left town in 2007, when he was a scout for the Nuggets. The ownership is passing from one Kroenke to another; the coach remains George Karl, and Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Nene and J.R. Smith are still around . . . at least for the moment.

"There are a lot of matters to address, and Josh (Kroenke), George and I will face them straight on. We will work well together," he said.

The Melo Matter is first and most crucial. "I will meet with him and say how important he has been and will be to our team and this city. I know that some days he feels one way, other days a different way. I'm hoping to catch him on a good day and convince him we want him here for his entire career.

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"We've got to change the perception and attitude about the Nuggets. We're only one season away from the Western Conference finals, and the Lakers knew the Nuggets could have beaten them. Last year there was George's illness; there were injuries, and a lot of stuff happened, but we won 53 games and got to the playoffs. We must return to where we were before, and I will do everything possible to make that happen.

"If I succeed, this will provide chances for others because basketball is a global game. If I fail, nobody will care where I came from."

He came from Zaria, formerly known as Zazzau, in northern Nigeria (and western Africa). His mother is a doctor, his father a hospital administrator. Ujiri was "a lean, lanky" kid who played soccer "until I stepped on a basketball court for the first time and fell in love with the game." He idolized Hakeem Olajuwon, the first Nigerian NBA star.

Young Masai decided he would be a basketball player in America. He attended prep school in Seattle, then connected with another player from Nigeria, Godwin Owinje, and the two agreed to attend Bismarck (N.D.) State (Junior) College.

"I was too skinny and raw for Division I," Ujiri said. Then-coach Buster Gilliss (the school's AD) was ecstatic about the Nigerian duo.

"For two years (1993- 95)," Gilliss said Friday, "we won a ton of games, and those two guys packed the gym. Best teams we ever had. Owinje was 6-(feet)-8, a strong inside player, and Masai I nicknamed 'Smooth.' He was a slasher-type, a runner, a jumper. He hit a game-winning shot in the playoff to go to nationals, but the officials ruled it came after the buzzer. We got a drawer full of letters about those two players."

Owinje received a scholarship at Georgetown; Ujiri didn't sign anywhere until late in the summer.

Press reports and the Raptors' media guides refer to Ujiri as "a former Montana State player." Sports information director Bill Lamberty said he had asked coaches at his school (the main Montana State in Bozeman), Montana State-Northern and throughout Montana, "and nobody's ever heard of him."

Ujiri said Friday afternoon he enrolled at Division II Montana State-Billings to play basketball, but stayed only one semester. "I didn't enjoy it. I really just wanted to play pro basketball. I had a British passport, and I got an agent and went to France to play on that passport (because of European teams' limits on U.S. players).

"After two weeks I joined Derby (in the British Basketball League). I wasn't good enough yet. But I played over there for six years (in Belgium and for BBL teams in Watford and Solent).

"I made some money, learned a lot about basketball and introduced myself to everyone" — including scouts and team officials from the NBA. His goal was to become a scout, a coach, an executive. "When my playing career ended, I got out my black book and starting making calls."

The Magic hired Ujiri as an unpaid international scout in 2003. The next year he joined the Nuggets as their paid international scout.

"George (Karl) was very helpful to me, and I got to know Melo and the other players and Mr. (Stan) Kroenke well. Working for the Nuggets and living in Denver was a great experience."

It is known that Ujiri got caught in the front-office turmoil involving vice presidents Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman. When Ujiri's contract expired in 2007, he was offered an expanding role by Kroenke, but considered three other job propositions.

Ujiri and Owinje had formed a partnership to help develop young African prospects — and started an annual Big Man's Camp in Nigeria. Ujiri has served as director of the NBA's "Basketball Without Borders" for the past eight years and worked closely with fellow Nigerian and former Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo.

Ujiri accepted a position with the Raptors. "I wanted to work more on the business side and develop my executive and player personnel skills."

He was named Raptors assistant general manager for player personnel in 2008.

Now, Ujiri has "fulfilled my wish" and reached a top job in his profession. Sometimes, be careful what you wish for.

"I am prepared. I work hard. We will be organized. I will evaluate and assess, and I will be aggressive in action. I want the Nuggets to be successful for the long term."

Welcome back to the wild animal park, Masai Ujiri. Get your game warden face on.

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